Focus:

The Need for Civility in Local Government Dialogue

A decade later, these sentiments still ring true
for municipal officials

Ten years ago, John C. Gillespie composed an article for NJ Municipalities on civility along with the Ten Commandments of Public Civility. It remains an excellent reference tool for municipal officials and here we re-run the piece with a few notations for reference to the passage of time.

The fundamental premise for this article is that, as local public officials, we should both show and demand public civility, public tolerance, and civil discourse at this time of increasing political polarization at the national level and in the media. Rhetoric has become too vitriolic, we are losing the ability to discuss things with civility.

To continue reading this article visit page 34 (with subscription).

To continue reading this article visit page 34 (without subscription).

Now & Then

Each month, Now & Then looks at NJ Municipalities magazine's rich history of articles, and comparing the issue’s focus articles to those that were featured in years past. Whether published in 1980, or as far back as 1917, many subjects are still on the minds of local government officials today. This month's article is titled, "Thank Your Mother: Earth Day in the Garden State," discuss the 49^th Annual Earth Day coming up April 22, and highlights preservation efforts from 1970, 1987 and 2009.